Fossil Footprints in the Old Red Sandstone at Cummingstone. 77 



opinion that all the tracks which he had seen were referable to va- 

 riously-sized individuals of one and the same species of reptile ; and 

 he described at length the only perfect impressions he had observed, 

 the one of a fore, the other of a hind foot. The impression of the 

 fore foot presented a broad, oval palmar depression, ending in five 

 digits, of which the innermost, representing the thumb, was very 

 broad and short. Each of the outer digits was terminated by a long 

 and tapering claw ; and there were clear traces of a web-like mem- 

 brane uniting these digits as far forwards as the bases of the ungual 

 phalanges. The innermost digit or thumb is directed inwards as 

 well as forwards, and appears to have been provided with h. thick, 

 short, and much curved nail. 



The impression of the hind foot is smaller than tliat of the fore 

 foot, to which, however, it has a general resemblance. It exhibits 

 only four digits, all terminating in taper claws and united by a web. 

 There are indications of a rudimentary outer toe. In one track, 

 where the impression of the fore foot measured three inches, the 

 stride was twelve inches. 



The impressions might very well have been made by such an 

 animal as Stagonolepis, with the ungual phalanges of which, indeed, 

 the claw-marks of the footsteps present a close resemblance, while 

 the shortness and breadth of the palmar and plantar impressions 

 harmonize very well with the proportions of the metatarsal or me- 

 tacarpal bone. 



In the course of his remarks, the author took occasion to express 

 his great obligations to Mr. Patrick DufF and the Rev. George 

 Gordon for tlieir zealous and most efhcient aid, without which it 

 would have been quite impossible for him to lay so complete a case 

 before the Society. 



4. " On Fossil Foot-prints in the Old Red Sandstone, at Cumming- 

 stone." By S. H. Beckles, Esq. F.G.S. 



Mr. Beckles, during a late tour through the Highlands, examined 

 the Sandstone-quarries at Covesea, near Elgin ; and, having exposed 

 and removed several square yards of the Sandstone-slabs bearing 

 fossil foot-prints at this place, has sent a large collection of them to 

 London, but has not yet had the opportunity of studying them in 

 detail. Mr. Beckles says that he has secured several varieties of 

 footsteps, differing in size and form, and in the number of the 

 claws, which vary apparently from 2 to 5. One foot-print, of a cir- 

 cular shape, measured 15 inches in breadtli. Some of the smaller 

 foot-prints are evidently formed by young individuals of the same 

 species that made some of tlie larger marks. Some of the prints 

 have been left, in the author's opinion, by web-footed animals. 



Most of the surface-ijlanes of the rock, at different levels, bear 

 foot-marks. Tlie majority of the tracks, Mr. Beckles says, arc 

 uniserial, the double (or quadrupedal) series being excejjtional. 



Mr. Beckles noticed also impressions uf rain-])rints, well-marked 

 on some of the surface-planes, and indicating tlie direction of the 

 wind blowing at the time of the rain-fall. 



